Media Release by The Hon Christian Porter MP

Tasmania to trial GPS tracking of repeat family violence offenders

Joint Media Release with:

  • Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
    Minister for Women

    The Hon Will Hodgman
    Premier, Tasmania

A three year trial of using GPS to track and monitor high risk family violence offenders will begin in Tasmania this year.

The Australian and Tasmanian Governments are each providing $1.4 million towards the trial to keep women and their children safe, and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.

Minister for Social Services, Christian Porter said that the Government was committed to harnessing the latest technologies available to tackle family violence.

“The trial will focus on providing 24/7 location monitoring of targeted family violence offenders, and will help identify if any breaches to intervention orders have occurred,” Minister Porter said.

“With monitoring happening in real time it will help to keep women and their children safe,” Premier Will Hodgman said.

The Minister for Women, Senator Michaelia Cash said Australian women and their children have the right to feel safe at all times, no matter where they are.

“On average, at least one woman is murdered a week by a partner or former partner and one in three Australian women has experienced physical violence since the age of 15,” Minister Cash said.

“The Turnbull Government is committed to finding innovate solutions which will protect Australian’s from the scourge of domestic violence.” The trial will target a group of high risk perpetrators who will have a monitoring condition placed on them as a condition of a Family Violence Order.

For the first time, victims can also nominate to carry a small, portable GPS device to enhance the ability of officials to detect breaches involving approaches made to victims outside identified exclusion zones.

The measure is part of the Australian Government’s $100 million Women’s Safety Package, and aims to test the use of innovative technology to assist in preventing violence against women and their children. The Technology Trials measure provides matched funding to state and territory governments.

The Technology Trials support the work being undertaken as part of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children (2010-2022).

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au.

In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000).